Kensington Market Community Land Trust
Ontario
Toronto
103 Bellevue Avenue
2017
Yes
The Kensington Market Community Land Trust is incorporated to acquire and provide for the management of land, in perpetuity, in or near the area bounded by the west side of Spadina Avenue, the south side of College Street, the east side of Bathurst Street, and the north side of Dundas Street, (Toronto’s Kensington Market).It removes property from the pressure of the commercial real estate market, with the overarching goal of land use for local community benefit, including but not limited to: the provision of affordable housing, maintenance of the historical built form and eclectic mixed-use nature that characterizes the neighbourhood, and the continued presence of different cultures and socio-economic backgrounds in the residents and businesses populating the area.
The Kensington Market Community Land Trust (KMCLT) was incorporated in December 2017 after years of community organizing led by Friends of Kensington Market. In 2018, it held a Community Visioning session to develop principles for redeveloping a City-owned parking lot on Bellevue Avenue. In 2021, KMCLT purchased its first building on Kensington Avenue, following efforts to prevent the displacement of existing residents. The organization aims to acquire and manage land in Kensington Market to preserve affordability, maintain the neighborhood's unique character, and support diverse local communities. In 2024, they launched a community bond campaign, raising $1M in investments to support the aquisition of an additional property for the land trust.
FairBNB Canada; Tapestry Community Capital; University of Toronto's School of Cities; the Affordable Housing Challenge Project; New Housing Alternatives (NHA) Research Partnership